Game device simulating basketball



April 13, 1954 M. s, LEAF 2,675,238 GAME DEVICE SIMULATING BASKETBALL Original Filed Aug. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

April 13, 1954 M. s. LEAF 2,675,238

GAME DEVICE SIMULATING BASKETBALL Original Filed Aug. 24 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Wizz/simil S Lay April 13, 1954 M. s. LEAF 2,575,238

GAME DEVICE SIMULATING BASKETBALL Original Filed Aug. 24 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'TOR.

Patented Apr. 13, 1954 GAME DEVICE SIMULATING BASKETBALL Marshall S. Leaf, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Leaf Brands, Inc., Chicago, Ill.,

Illinois Original application Au 181,180. Divided and 1952, Serial No. 298,675

3 Claims.

Thepresent inventionrelates to a game device simulating basket ball, and is particularly concerned with an improved toy adapted to use gum balls or the like as the simulated basket ball.

The present application is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 181,180, Combined Bank, Coin Controlled Guin Vender and Game, Patent No. 2,606,088, issued August 5, 1952.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved game which utilizes bubble gum in the form of balls, the bubble gum being made available to the user upon successful play of the game.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved game of skill utilizing a ball of bubble gum as a game ball in such manner that the successful player receives the bubble gum as a reward for his skill.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the class described incorporating a miniature basket ball game in which the game is played with balls of gum.

Another object is the provision of an improved game of skill, in which the play ball may be edible or made of gum, so that the device provides an incentive for the user to practice his skill on the miniature basket ball game. f

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved toy which is sturdy, simple, certain in its operation, capable of being economically manufactured and adapted to be used for a long period of time without necessity for repair or replacement of any of its parts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

' R'eferriz'igy to the three sheets of drawings accompanying the specicatiom Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a game device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

. Fig. 6 is -a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 6 6, of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.. .7 is a fragmentary-vertical sectional view,`

a corporation of gust 24, 1950, Serial No. this application July 14,

2 taken on the plane of the line 'I l of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View, taken on the plane of the line 8 8 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 9 9 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken on the plane of the line l d l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the partition 69,111 partial section, showing the arcuate beveled holding pawl 82 in elevation.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the present device is preferably provided with a housing which is constructed out of a suitable moldable plastic; and in fact the entire device may be constructed out of plastic, with the exception of three springs, which are preferably made of resilient steel or other resilient metal.

The housing 2B is preferably made of a plurality of separate units, such as a base portion 2l, a vertical game portion 22, and a merchandise receiving portion 23. The base portion 2l may consist of a thin shell of molded plastic, having a bottom wall 24, a pair of side walls 25 and 26, and a front wall 21, which is preferably provided with a partially cylindrical portion 28, which also has a top wall 29 and extends to the bottom wall 24 The back side of the housing is preferably open and provided with a cover plate 36, which closes the base and the merchandise receiving portion 23 and is provided with a suitable key controlled lock, further to be described.

The game portion 22 of the housing may consist of a molded plastic shell having a pair of side walls 3|, 32 joined by a partially cylindrical top wall 33, all of these walls being supported by a back wall 34. The front of this game portion is open, but is covered with a window 35 of transparent plastic.

The game portion has its curved top Wall 33 provided with an inward extension 36 curving over toward the right side of the game portion and terminating at the upper corner 3l of a ball chute 38. The ball chute 38 is formed in the base portion 2| and is formed by the side wall 25 and a downwardly extending parallel wall 3S, which parallel wall is provided with a rectangular aperture 40, as can be seen in Fig. 9.

The front Window 35 is provided with straight side edges iiush with the walls 3| and 32 and with thel circular'upper edge ush with' the out- 3 side of the curved wall 33. The window also has a depending straight portion covering the front of the ball chute at 88, this straight portion being indicated at 4| (Fig. 9). The depending portion 4| of the front window has an aperture 42 in its lower end, which is preferably rectangular and provides space for an operating spring 43 to project outward and to permit a limited amount of motion of the spring.

The portion of the housing between the Walls 3| and 38 is preferably closed with a front wall portion 44; and the cylindrical front wall portion 28 preferably has a rectangular slot 45.

The inside of the back wall 34 preferably bears a representation of a basket ball, and this wall is provided with an aperture 45a (Fig. 4) for receiving a basket and delivery chute assembly 46.

This basket and delivery chute assembly preferably consists of a molded plastic member which is transparent; and it has a partially cylindrical and U-shaped basket 41, which is open at the top and the bottom, and which may be provided with ribs or grooves 4S, simulating the basket ball net.

The upper edge of the basket 41 is integrally joined to a trapezoidal top wall 49, which extends to the front window at the upper edge of a rectangular aperture 58. The rectangular aperture 58 has a downward extension 5|, which passes a delivery chute 52 that projects outwardly beyond the front window.

The delivery chute 52 is a substantially half cylindrical trough, terminating in a rounded end wall 53 (Fig. 4) in front, and terminating also at its back in an upwardly extended rounded end wall 54 that extends up to the bottom of the basket 41.

At its front edge the delivery chute may have an upwardly extending member 55 (Fig. 1) to keep the ball from jumping out, but permitting the lingers to grasp the ball from both sides of the trough 52.

The delivery chute assembly has a pair of diagonal walls 55, 51 depending from the top wall 49 and extending over to the lateral sides of the opening in the front window. Thus the delivery chute assembly is closed ofi on all sides from the interior of the game portion, eX` cept at its bottom and its top.

The game ball 58 (Fig. l) may be projected upwardly and may drop into the basket 41 and, if so, will be delivered out in front of the window 35 by the delivery chute 52.

The game portion preferably has an inwardly extending obstruction 59 projecting inwardly from the'side wall 3| at about the level of the` top of the basket 41. This obstruction provides something against which the game ballY 58 may bounce upward so that it may more readily drop into the basket 41.

'I'he various parts of the housing may be integrally welded together by the use Vof a solvent,V

or may be secured by means of a suitable cement.

The merchandise receiving portion 23 is formed by means of the back wall 39, a bottom wall 60, and an inverted U-shaped member 6|. The U- shaped member 8| is substantially rectangular with rounded corners, and comprises two sides 62, 63, and an upper wall 64. The U-shaped member 6| and bottom wall 68 (Fig. 4) are preferably made transparent so that the merchandise in this chamber may be seen at all times,

to provide an incentive for the use of the device The bottom wall 60 is preferably provided with a partially circular cut-out 85 (Fig. 4) which permits access to the ball sockets of a rotor 66 from the supply of merchandise in the chamber 61. The rotor 66, actuating member 58, and the spring 43 are all preferably supported on a unit carried by a partition '69, which is insertable into the base 30 from the open back.

The side walls 25 and 26 are provided on their inside with pairs of spaced ribs above and below the partition `69, providing guides into which the partition 89 may be slid. The partition 69 has a cylindrical `shaft 10 projecting upward and serving as a trunnion for the coin controlled actuator 68.

This coin controlled actuator consists of a circular disc 1| (Figs. 6 and '1), and it has an in tegral tubular bearing member 12 rotating on the shaft 10. The disc 1| is provided on its front edge with a substantially cylindrical wall 12 extending laterally on each side of a coin chute 1.3. The length of the wall 12 is suicient to overlap and close the rectangular aperture 45 whether the coin chute 13 is in its left position or its right position, the latter being shown `in` Fig. 1.V

The coin chute 13 comprises an integral part of the disc and has a curved bottom wall 14 and a pair of parallel side walls 15, 16, forming a slot at 18 through the wall 12.

Disc 1| also has a radial slot '|1 (Fig..5) form-f ing a continuation of the slot in the coin chute 13.` The coin controlled actuating member 68, which includes the coin chute 13 and disc 1|, is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 19; andthe top wall 29 of the forward curved portion of the base has a short radial slot 19, whichregisters' with the coin chute when the coin chute isin its right hand position.

The exposed portion of the coin' chute is'too small to permit any coin to be inserted, exceptY when the coin chute is inthe right hand position of Fig. 3, in registry with the short slot 19Y in the top Wall 29.

The disc 1| also has an arcuate slot 80 (Fig;

6), terminating in a circular hole 8|. The arcuate slot receives a stop member 82, which may consist of a spring or an integral rib secured to the partition 69. The hole 8| is to pass a ball through the discA 1|; and the arcuate slot is to.`

receive the arcuate rib 82.

Disc 1| has round Vaperture 8|, which registers with a trough 83 (Fig. l0) when the coin controlled actuator 68 is in its left hand position.

This permits a ball to drop into the ball trough f 83 after a coin has been inserted and the actuator 88 is moved to the left.

At the same time the coin slot 18 registers'with coin slot 84 (Fig. 6) in the partition 69, per-'H mitting the coin which has been used'to'drop into the lower part of the base in a chamber indicated-at 85 (Fig. 4).

The rotor 66 consists of a circular member of welded plastic, having a tubular hub 86 `and a round body 81 at the top. Hub 88 rotatesk on the outside of the tubular bearing 12 of the actuator disc 1|. The body 81 of this rotor is circular and has a multiplicity of circular through bores 88 separated by radial slots 89.

The circular through bores have a pair of upwardly projecting ribs 92 (F'ig. 6)..

depending` cylindrical walls 98; and the radial slots 89 in"- so that a coin in the slot 13 is `supported in vertical position, sliding on the partition 5S and projecting into the slots 3Q oi the rotor S6. The coin continues to be supported until it reaches the slot 8e, when it falls through the partition into the bank chamber t5.

The slots E9 also serve to engage an indexing spring e3 (Fig. 5). This spring has a V-shaped formation Sii engaging in the slots 89. It also has an outwardly projecting camming end S5 permitting it to ride over the corners of the slots. The spring extends peripherally, but has a horizontal attaching flange 95 with an aperture on an integral plastic pin 97.

The attaching iiange 98 of the spring serves to hold the rotor and. actuating member downward on their bearings.

On its lower side the partition 69 (Fig. 9) supports a depending rib 99. This rib extends forwardly and backwardly and has a projecting cylindrical stud itil passing through an aperture in the spring di. Rib S9 has another integral stud it! passing through the spring and preventing rotation of the spring.

The spring :i3 is a leaf spring provided with a ball shaped formation i t2 on its outer end., which projects about three fourths of an inch from the front of the housing. The ball trough 83 terminates short of the spring 43, permitting the ball to rest on the spring 3. The partition 59 supports the ball trough 83.

The ball trough 83 is open at the top and has side walls |03, le@ and back wall m5. It is also open at the right side and has an opening at |05 on its right side and a bottom itl, which slopes toward the opening. Thus a ball which is deposited in the trough E3 'tends to roll into the chute 38 and is deposited on the spring 43.

The back cover 36 is preferably provided with an inwardly projecting integral stud ills (Fig. 4), which supports a lock spring 09. This lock spring has a vertical attaching iiange i it riveted on the stud 63 and a horizontal flange provided with a V-formation lil having its apex upward.

There is a key slot H2 directly above the spring I t9. Spring m9 engages in a rectangular aperture H3 (Fig. 6) in the partition E59. At the front side of this aperture there is an upwardly extending U-shaped formation lil, which is open at the bottoni, providing a downwardly open slot that registers with the key opening H2.

Thus the back can be locked in place by merely snapping the spring ille into the aperture l I3. The back wall 35i has a pair of backward ribs I I 5 which terminate in downwardly projecting cylindrical lugs (Fig. 2). These lugs nt in apertures Ht in the bottom wall 2d to secure the bottom of the back cover.

As the spring Ille is below the partition t9, it tends to push the lugs l l5 into the apertures I It and to hold the back cover 3e' in closed position. Any key which has a fiat, narrow shank small enough to be inserted in the slot H2 can be used, if it has an end which is beveled on its lower side.

The lower beveled end of the key will engage the top of the spring itis at its V-formation lli and force the spring downward to unlock the back cover 30.

The operation of the present device is as iollows:

When the back has been removed with a suit- 6. able key, the mechandise chamber 61 is open and may be filled with balls of gum or candy or the like. A number of these, such as, for example, four, immediately drop into the through bores 6'8 in the rotor, which are exposed by the Wall E0 above the rotor at the aperture 65.

A nickel, dime, or penny may be used and dropped into the coin chute i3. Either of these coins will drop in far enough to rest in one of the slots 8e and in the slot 'i8 of the disc 7l. The coin chute i3 may serve as an actuator 8S; and it may be moved toward the left in the rectangular aperture 45.

The range of motion of the actuator 63 is limited by the coin chute 'E3 engaging the ends of the arcuate hole 45.

During this motion the coin in the slot 18 of the disc "H serves as a physical connection between this disc and the rotor 66 because the coin is also in a slot 89 oi the rotor.

The rotation permitted is ended at the left of the aperture i5, when one of the circular aper-v tures 88 of the rotor registers with the aperture El in disc 'Il and with the aperture in the partition 59. A ball then drops into the ball trough 83 and rolls into the ball chute 33 above the spring 43.

The coin then also registers with the slot 84 in the partition @El and drops into the bank chamber 35. The user has now deposited a coin and actuated the coin control and has moved a ball of gum or candy into the ball chute above the spring.

Since the present device is to be a toy owned by the child, he has not spent the coin, but has saved y it. The child may then press the spring i3 downward with a nger on the rounded end |02, letting the finger snap off the spring. This will cause the spring to impel the ball upward into the game portion 22.

The ball will pass around inside the curved wall 33, will strike the obstruction 59, and rebound upward, and in a large number of cases will drop into the basket 31. If the user fails to get the ball in the basket, the ball will roll down the curved surface St into the ball chute 38 again.

The user may try again and again until the ball is deposited in the basket; and in the present game it is relatively easy to secure a basket.

When the ball drops in the basket, it rolls out the ball delivery chute 52, where the user can grasp it, and he then is rewarded for saving a coin. The movement of the coin chute or actuator 6B moves the rotor step by step so that one ball is deposited for each coin.

The rotor snaps over the rib S2, which presents a shoulder, preventing backward movement. The over-hanging part 93 of the spring 93 urges the rotor down on the stop rib 82.

The rib or pawl 82 being beveled on its leading edge does not stop the disc H from rotating clockwise in Fig. `6, but having a sharp shoulder on the pawl 82 at its left end in Fig. 6 causes the disc 'H to snap down behind the shoulder when it moves far enough and prevents backward or counterclockwise movement of disc 7i.` The shape of this pawl is shown in Fig. ll.

A coin cannot be inserted until the coin chute 13 is moved back to the right hand position in registry with the slot l. In any other position the exposed part of the coin chute is: too short, even for a dime.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved coin controlled machine which also incorporates a small basket ball game and a toy bank. Either pennies, nickels or dimes may be employed; and theyv are saved when deposited, but the user getsv a reward in the form of a ball of gum or candy. The user is also permitted to play a game of skill; and until the balls of gum or candyI are brought out by making a basket, they are kept in a sanitary condition, but visible to the user. The present device stimulates the thrift Vof ther children using it.

While have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction Set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by VLetters,

Patent of the United States, is:

l. A gaine device simulating basket ball, comprising a housing member having a half cylindrical top wall, said top wall having integral depending tangential side walls, one of which forms the side of a ball chute depending below a partially cylindrical ball guiding chamber, said housing having an integral back wall provided with a vertically depending portion forming the back wall of said bal1 chute, said back wall having a below center, partially round aperture, and said back wall also supporting an integral, forwardly extending, partially cylindrical lower race wall, terminating in a tangential portion extending downwardly and laterally to said chute, and having a vertical inner wall extension forming the other side of said chute, a front wall member of transparent plastic having an outline similar to 30 said housing, and forming the front wall of said vertical ball guiding chamber and chute, said front wall carrying a horizontal flange supporting a rearwardly extending, partially tubular member closed at its rear side by said rearwall and open at both ends to simulate a basket ball basket, said Y tubular member having its lower end above said aperture, a second housing member having a top wall provided with an integral forwardly projecting upwardly open round trough elbow, said elbow projecting through said rear wall aperture into registry with a partially round aperture in the front Wall for delivery of balls from said basket tube forwardly out of said trough, a radial de-v flecting Flange on the curved wall of said guide chamber opposite to said ball chute, and means for impelling a ball upwardly from the bottom of said chute.

2. A game device according to claim l, in which said latter means comprises a leaf spring sup-v ported by the back wall of the chute, traversing the chute from back to front to support a ball, and projecting from a hole in the front wall, to be depressed and released to impel a ball vertically around a half circular path to bounce oi said deflector flange upwardly in an arcuate path toward the upper opening in said basket tube.

3. A game device according to claim l, in whichv the front wall is provided with a laterally round and forwardly round and upwardly open troughA in registry with the open end of said elbow for receiving and holding a ball discharged from said elbow.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hartle Apr. 25, 1933 hmmert! 

